rank 1 of 3

Definition of ranknext

rank

2 of 3

noun

1
as in ranking
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement attained the highest rank in the Freemasons

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in row
a series of people or things arranged side by side rank upon rank of cavalry came thundering down the hill

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

rank

3 of 3

adjective

1
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rank distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of rank are fetid, fusty, malodorous, musty, noisome, putrid, and stinking. While all these words mean "bad-smelling," rank suggests a strong unpleasant smell.

rank cigar smoke

How do fusty and musty relate to one another, in the sense of rank?

Both fusty and musty suggest lack of fresh air and sunlight, fusty also implying prolonged uncleanliness, musty stressing the effects of dampness, mildew, or age.

a fusty attic
the musty odor of a damp cellar

When is malodorous a more appropriate choice than rank?

The synonyms malodorous and rank are sometimes interchangeable, but malodorous may range from the unpleasant to the strongly offensive.

malodorous fertilizers

In what contexts can noisome take the place of rank?

While the synonyms noisome and rank are close in meaning, noisome adds a suggestion of being harmful or unwholesome as well as offensive.

a stagnant, noisome sewer

When might putrid be a better fit than rank?

Although the words putrid and rank have much in common, putrid implies particularly the sickening odor of decaying organic matter.

the putrid smell of rotting fish

How are the words stinking and fetid related as synonyms of rank?

Both stinking and fetid suggest the foul or disgusting.

prisoners were held in stinking cells
the fetid odor of skunk cabbage

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rank
Verb
In a YouGov survey of the top 20 most popular activities, cooking took 9th place (ranking higher than such activities as reading, traveling, eating out at restaurants, and sightseeing), and baking ranked 19th (one spot higher on the list than going to the movies). Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 Here are three stocks favored by some of Wall Street’s top pros, according to TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance. Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 31 May 2026
Noun
Instead, after the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a white police officer, a number of companies published their demographic data as part of public commitments to address the lack of diversity within their ranks. Andrea Hsu, NPR, 1 June 2026 The firm also has a robust base of more than 100 athlete investors, offering Tiva an opportunity to expand its awareness in the ranks of the professional sports. Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 1 June 2026
Adjective
The twin sons of former NBA player Theo Ratliff moved up 34 spots and 20 spots, respectively, in the site’s latest re-rank. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026 Cultivate trusted cross-rank advocacy and networks to support junior employees. Jallicia Jolly, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
  • Today, there are nearly 100 million people descended from those immigrants, and a visit really brings their story to life.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
  • Then there is the activism at its most mush-brained.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Those with motors of a certain size are legally classified as mopeds or motorcycles and cannot legally be ridden by anyone younger than age 16.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
  • Most of the people at Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Central Pennsylvania don't have a criminal record and are classified as low-security detainees, said Deluzio, who lives in Fox Chapel and represents parts of Allegheny County and all of Beaver County.
    Finch Walker, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Toney’s high school coach Mike Smith, who has developed more than his share of five-star recruits, including Patrick Surtain, Sony Michel and Brian Burns, suspects Toney didn’t get his due from the ranking systems because they’re based heavily on measurables.
    Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • The Canadian hip-hop musician charted 27 smashes on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 2018, as a number of songs from his album Scorpion reached the ranking at the same time.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Ava rejects Deborah’s wishes to end her own life with dignity, tries to accept them, rejects them again, and finally reaches reconciliation.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 May 2026
  • This is about stability, dignity, and fairness.
    Mercury News Editorial Board, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Wilson won its seventh girls team title and fourth in a row, tying the record set by Moore League rival Long Beach Poly from 2008-11.
    Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
  • The row between crypto companies and banks came down to whether those offering stablecoin accounts should be able to pay interest on deposits like traditional bank accounts, with banking groups warning that the stability of the financial system could be undermined as people move their money.
    Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • Those works came in the wake of much debate about both zombie formalism, a term coined by critic-artist Walter Robinson, and provisional painting, coined by critic Raphael Rubinstein, but fit into neither category.
    Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 3 June 2026
  • Video game casting will now be recognized as a membership qualification category by the Casting Society (CSA), allowing professionals in game casting to be eligible to apply for CSA membership.
    Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • There is a lot of time left in the offseason and the rush to blow small developments or highlights out of proportion this time of year runs rampant across the league.
    Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 3 June 2026
  • In it, however, Martin Bech Holte, an economist and former head of the consultancy firm McKinsey in Norway, did not suggest curbing rampant levels of inequality — recently reported to be at 1912 levels — or otherwise restore the country to some social democratic golden age.
    Ola Morris Innset, The Dial, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • There are notes of vanilla, malted chocolate, ripe fruit, pear, oak, and caramel on the palate, with some lingering baking spice, citrus, and dark roast espresso on the finish.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 3 June 2026
  • The film unhurriedly lurches from one markedly similar fight scene to the next, with only Skeletor’s occasional injections of ripe innuendo to liven them up a bit.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on rank

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster